Trump’s campaign told NBC News that Trump was not referring to American soldiers last night when he suggested some soldiers were living well from Iraqi reconstruction funds, but rather Iraqi soldiers:
NBC NEWS – Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested soldiers who embezzled funds from Iraqi reconstruction efforts were “living very well.”
“Iraq. Crooked as hell,” Trump said at a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina. “How about bringing baskets of money, millions and millions of dollars, and handing it out?” he asked. “I want to know who are the soldiers that had that job because I think they’re living very well right now, whoever they may be.”
Trump’s spokesperson insists he wasn’t referring to American military personnel. “Mr. Trump was referring to Iraqi soldiers,” Hope Hicks said to NBC News Tuesday evening.
The Trump campaign could offer no backup for its claim. The fund for distributing cash during the reconstruction was controlled by the U.S.-led coalition.
An investigation by the House Oversight Committee discovered lax oversight of shipments of money from the United States to Iraq in 2004.
Here’s the video:
When I heard this last night it wasn’t clear to me that he was talking about American soldiers, which is why we didn’t post it. After all, he had just said Iraq was ‘crooked as hell’, signifying to me he was referring to Iraqi soldiers.
But, as NBC News points out, Trump’s people were unable to backup the claim. Of course. Trump always stuff in vague ways which can be interpreted in a bad way, and then when he says ‘that’s not what I meant’, he has no evidence to backup his claim in the first place.
Whatever the case here, Trump continues to say things that leaves just enough room for Democrats to pounce on him and seem legitimate in doing so. Trump needs to be more specific and intentional with his words. He has said multiple times that ‘he has the best words’. He needs to prove it.